MR. E. G. PILCHER
The death of Mr. Ernest Gregory Pilcher, which occurred today after an illness of four weeks, removes a link with very early Wellington. His father arrived here in 1852; and he was related to -Edward Betts Hopper, who, with his partners, Francis Molesworth and Henry Petre, landed on Petone beach from the ship Oriental in January, 1840.
The late.Mr. Pilcher was. born in Wellington in 1860, and was educated at the Wellington Grammar School and Wellington College. On leaving college, he entered the Public Works Department as a cadet. In 1880 he was transferred to the Railway Department, and in 1888 was appointed secretary to the Railway Commissioners. From 1895 to 1897 he was district traffic manager at Napier. Mr. Pilcher subsequently became secretary of the Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company, and was a director of the United Brunner Coal Mines, Ltd. He was a member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for over twenty years, and was a member of the council of the chamber for three years. Mr. Pilcher was vice-president of the New Zealand Philatelic Society; was chairman of the historical section of the Philosophical Society; was a member of the War Memorial-Carillon Society, and until recently was honorary treasurer of that organisation; was honorary treasurer of the Community Club for Territorials and Senior Cadets; and was a past-president of the' Wellington Early Settlers' Association.
Mr. Pilcher is survived by his widow, four sons, and one daughter. The funeral will leave the residence, 225 The Terrace, at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. [2]